Saturday 15.
I rose at seven—The morning fair the ground muddy—Ben asked me to ride with him to Mr Blains Store I chose rather to stay at Home—Ben is preparing for the approaching Ball—Bob urged me to let him go to Mr Lees, but he is so unruly & mischeivous when abroad that I was obliged to refuse him the liberty of going. I spent some hours to Day with the Girls when they were practising Music on the Guitar, & Forte-piano, Priscilla plays her tunes true and exceeding finely—In the Evening Ben returned from Mr Blains—He told me the Store was thronged with company—Sup'd on chocolate, & hoe-Cake, so called because baked on a Hoe before the fire—The Colonel and his Daughter busy at Music.
Sunday 16.
The morning frosty & cold—Ben, Bob, Harry, & Mr Randolph went to Church—I stay at Home; Read Pictete—I feel very desirous of seeing Home: of hearing good Mr Hunter Preach; of seeing my dear Brothers & Sister; Indeed the very soil itself would be precious to me!—I am shut up in my chamber; I read a while, then walk to the North window, & look over Potowmack through Maryland towards Home; then throw myself down into my Chair again & console myself that I have every necessary, & convenient Accommodation here, which I should have; nay much more than I should allow myself were I at Home. I am contented—This whole world is only a Point almost unnoticeable, when compared with the numerous Systems which compose the universe, & yet they all are under the particular Direction & Government of Almighty God; How insignificant therefore is it for me and how foolish to be uneasy, & solicitous whether I live in Cohansie, in Princeton, or in Virgininia; Or in America, or in Europe, so long as I am still supported, & upheld by the Divine Agency!—I am fully satisfied—Guide me, propitious Heaven! Help me to Glorify my God; To honour the holy Religion which I profess; & If I shall be fitted, & introduced to the Ministry, may I still go on and be of advantage to my fellow Mortals!—
Evening, The Boys are returned; Bob brings me the parsons Compliments; Mr Cunninghams; & that Miss Corbin enquired If I was well!—Bob [also] informed me that the Parson, Mr Blain, Cunningham, Balantine, & others are to come to Captain Turburvilles Mill-Pond to Skate before they go to the Ball—
Monday 17.
At Breakfast the Colonel gave orders to the Boys concerning their conduct this Day, & through the course of the Ball—He allows them to go; to stay all this Night; to bring him an Account of all the company at the Ball; & to return tomorrow Evening—All the morning is spent in Dressing.—Mr Carter & Mrs Carter pressed me to go; But, mindful of my Promise when I left Home, I stay and enjoy myself in quiet.—I give the Children a Holiday to Day—I gave Dennis the Waiter half a Bit a Present—Mrs Carter, Miss Prissy, & Nancy dressed splendidly set away from Home at two.
Teusday 18.
Mrs Carter, & the young Ladies came Home last Night from the Ball, & brought with them Mrs Lane, they tell us there were upwards of Seventy at the Ball; forty one Ladies; that the company was genteel; & that Colonel Harry Lee,[115] from Dumfries, & his Son Harrey who was with me at College, were also there; Mrs Carter made this an argument, and it was a strong one indeed, that to-day I must dress & go with her to the Ball—She added also that She Desired my Company in the Evening when she should come Home as it would be late—After considering a while I consented to go, & was dressed—we set away from Mr Carters at two; Mrs Carter & the young Ladies in the Chariot, Mrs Lane in a Chair, & myself on Horseback—As soon as I had handed the Ladies out, I was saluted by Parson Smith; I was introduced into a small Room where a number of Gentlemen were playing Cards, (the first game I have seen since I left Home) to lay off my Boots Riding-Coat &c—Next I was directed into the Dining-Room to see Young Mr Lee; He introduced me to his Father—With them I conversed til Dinner, which came in at half after four. The Ladies dined first, when some Good order was preserved; when they rose, each nimblest Fellow dined first—The Dinner was as elegant as could be well expected when so great an Assembly were to be kept for so long a time.—For Drink, there was several sorts of Wine, good Lemon Punch, Toddy, Cyder, Porter &c.—About Seven the Ladies & Gentlemen begun to dance in the Ball-Room—first Minuets one Round; Second Giggs; third Reels; And last of All Country-Dances; tho' they struck several Marches occasionally—The Music was a French-Horn and two Violins—The Ladies were Dressed Gay, and splendid, & when dancing, their Silks & Brocades rustled and trailed behind them!—But all did not join in the Dance for there were parties in Rooms made up, some at Cards; some drinking for Pleasure; some toasting the Sons of america; some singing "Liberty Songs" as they call'd them, in which six, eight, ten or more would put their Heads near together and roar, & for the most part as unharmonious as an affronted—Among the first of these Vociferators was a young Scotch-Man, Mr Jack Cunningham; he was nimis bibendo appotus; noisy, droll, waggish, yet civil in his way & wholly inoffensive—I was solicited to dance by several, Captain Chelton, Colonel Lee, Harry Lee, and others; But George Lee,[116] with great Rudeness as tho' half drunk, asked me why I would come to the Ball & neither dance nor play Cards? I answered him shortly, (for his Impudence moved my resentment) that my Invitation to the Ball would Justify my Presence; & that he was ill qualified to direct my Behaviour who made so indifferent a Figure himself—Parson Smiths, & Parson Gibberns Wives danced, but I saw neither of the Clergymen either dance or game[117]—At Eleven Mrs Carter call'd upon me to go, I listned with gladness to the summons & with Mrs Lane in the Chariot we rode Home, the Evening sharp and cold!—I handed the Ladies out, waited on them to a warm Fire, then ran over to my own Room, which was warm and had a good Fire; oh how welcome! Better this than to be at the Ball in some corner nodding, and awaked now & then with a midnight Yell!—In my Room by half after twelve; & exceeding happy that I could break away with Reputation.—